Alpine Completes Portimao Test With 2026-Spec A424

Alpine has conducted its first test of the year with its updated A424 as it gears up for its third season with the car in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The French manufacturer was in action for two days at Portimao on Jan. 30-31 with Frederic Makowiecki, Ferdinand Habsburg and new signing Victor Martins sharing driving duties, in what marked the first running for the car in final 2026 specification.

A total of 1,250 kms were covered in dry conditions, including night-time running, with Alpine reporting the test passed “without incident.”

It marked single-seater convert Martins’ first running aboard the A424 since he had his first taste of the car in the Bahrain rookie test in November 2024.

“It was a very special moment to get back behind the wheel of the Alpine A424 and discover Portimao,” said Martins. “I was particularly impressed by the car’s aerodynamic downforce and power.

“I really enjoyed seeing the precision it requires, especially under braking and at corner entries. Obviously, I need a bit of time to adapt, with a lot to learn about the different systems, but the work we did was very positive.

“Ferdinand and Frederic shared their experience with me to help me settle in quickly, improve and get up to speed. The team is extremely professional, with real passion and high ambitions for the project.

“It gives me extra motivation, and I can’t wait to continue working with them, whether on the simulator or on track, to be fully prepared for the first race in Qatar.” 

Alpine is set to reveal its 2026 livery and its full driver crews on Feb. 18 at a launch event in Paris, and is scheduled to conduct another two days of testing with its updated A424 at Aragon on Feb. 25-26, when it will share the track with Toyota.

So far the French manufacturer has only confirmed four of its drivers, with Antonio Felix da Costa — absent from the Portimao test due to Formula E duties — also having been officially named alongside Makowiecki, Habsburg and Martins.

However, Charles Milesi and Jules Gounon are both expected to remain part of the team.

Milesi was among the drivers to sample the A424 updates for a private test in Bahrain last November, which took place in the week after the rookie test.